UPDATED, 4:42 p.m., Jan. 30: The nation of Qatar is in contract to buy an Upper East Side townhouse for $100 million.

Qatar intends to convert the townhouse into a consulate, as the New York Post initially reported. The 20,500-square-foot mansion, currently in use as an art gallery, will set a record for the priciest New York City commercial townhouse if it closes.

The property is currently owned by prominent New York City art dealers the Wildenstein family, who were represented by the Corcoran Group’s Carrie Chiang in the deal. The property was never officially put on the market, but had unofficially been asking about $125 million, Chiang confirmed. The sale is slated to close in April.

“I was approached by the buyer’s representatives who asked if I knew of a property that could meet the very specific needs of their client,” Chiang told The Real Deal via email. “I contacted my long-term clients, the Wildenstein family, to explore any possible interest in selling their mansion although the property was not on the market. I thought of that property because it was the perfect answer to the Qatari consulate requirements. After reviewing the buyer’s request, my client agreed to the sale and the deal was consummated very quickly.”

In a statement to The Real Deal, Corcoran President and CEO Pamela Liebman credited Chiang’s “expertise and experience” for her role in the successful deal. “Even though Carrie maintains a very low profile, everyone in the industry – and around the world – knows who to call when a client is looking for the best,” Liebman said via email.

Oren and Tal Alexander of Douglas Elliman’s Alexander team represented the buyer in the deal.

“Besides the location and width, it’s a turn-key property, which is what I think struck the state of Qatar,” Oren Alexander told The Real Deal. “They wanted something that was going to happen rather quickly, and everything else in terms of location or with the right width was a project, and they didn’t want a two- or three-year project. Foreigners especially don’t want to come to the States and go through the headache of hiring contractors and building something.”

Ahmed Yousef Al-Rumaihi, consul general for the state of Qatar, said in a statement provided to The Real Deal by the Alexander team that “this is a perfect choice for our consulate, given its location, size, layout and infrastructure. Other than very minor cosmetic changes we may make, it is in move-in condition.”

Qatari royals have been on somewhat of a buying binge in Manhattan over the last couple of years. In June 2013, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, the country’s former prime minister, paid $35 million for the Ellen Biddle Shipman townhouse at Beekman Place. And a year before that, he negotiated deals to buy about $250 million worth of apartments in Extell’s One57 tower.

The eleven-member Alexander Team also holds the listing for a $95 million, full-floor unit at the Sherry Netherland, which changed brokers earlier this month, a $58 million listing in the Hamptons and two Long Island Gold Coast estates that are listed for $15 million and $8 million respectively.

That sale not only should shatter the record, but DOES shatter the record!!

GueldaTRD

It’s only in contract. The price could change.

GueldaTRD

TRD jinx!

HitenSamtani

Hey Greg, it depends on whether it closes at that price. It may not, and another property may sell for even more before this one closes – though that would be some serious news!

Gregory Garson

I have a feeling that it will close as that price as the attorney for the deal gave me some insight.

Sol Goldman

Then that attorney should be fired for violating attorney-client privacy rights

Chris Harrison

Hiten, I think you are missing the point here. It’s a commercial property – always has been and will remain a commercial use. A government consulate is a commercial entity. Even when it closes, it doesn’t even come close to shattering a record. This is a classic example of the press sensationalizing a not so sensational story!

HitenSamtani

When you’re right Chris, you’re right. We’re updating the story. Thanks for the note, Hiten

yep

how about you guys just don’t make so many mistakes and take some time when writing articles…..

NYC Parker

Great, more street parking lost to these stupid consulates.

James

I wonder how all of his poor subjects feel about this?
More reasons why extremist groups flourish in the Middle East.
Greed

LLJ

False reporting at it’s finest. The property is a commercial townhouse yet is being reported as a residential purchase. This shatters NO records. It’s always being a commercial property and always will it will be used as a government consulate. What a joke.

nyman

“I contacted my long-term clients, the Wildenstein family,” and they gave it to the Alexander

Peter Goss

opinionamerica.net is proud that in America everyone can succeed.

saywha?

it’s amazing how such a tiny country will spend $100MM on a building for a few dicks to sit around and play cards.

talisacooldude

the only thing cool about this article is that Tal appears to have brokered a hundred million dollar deal in a hanes V-neck

Jason Heinz

Only Tal and Oren would spend this much effort getting their names out there for a deal that hasn’t closed. And, sounds like Carrie structured this entire deal and Tal and Oren had little to do with it…the property sells itself. #ATeam#RecordBreakers #AllDay

We all know how Qatar is focused on World Peace. We marvel at their inventive minds. The Kingshire Tract in Texas will enable the Qatar Moguls to build a Cosmopolitan City for the benerfit of mankind.

Mike Kennedy

Qatar is seeking to solve the housing problem in GAZA. Peter Cret is designing a
Mega City to house the residents of this region. Each of the sons should give up
Comfort Food, Wearing Women’s clothes and recognize that Donald Trump in a locked room would beat the crap out of these ladies in two minutes. America is the Best last hope for mankind.!